I Think I Remember that Film

As I am so fond of doing so, let's talk adaptation.

Truman Capote wrote the novella "Breakfast at Tiffany's" as a character study on one of the most memorable women in literature: Holly Golightly. A free spirit running away from an abuse-riddled past, Holly's name became synonymous with style, intrigue, and the elusive. Impossible to tame, she defied any idea of how women should behave, and personified the eternal struggle to find happiness that young people continue to face.

Most people, when presented with the name "Holly Golightly", probably think of Audrey Hepburn, as well as the film adaptation of the novella. There are so many things about this film that are now iconic: Holly's little black dress, Holly munching on a Danish in front of Tiffany's, Holly singing "Moon River", most things about Holly, really. Hepburn's performance captures so much of the original character, like her free spirit, her erratic behavior, her casual approach to life and relationships, and the darkness that lies within her.

It's a shame that the rest of the film pays so little attention to the source material. Like Holly, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" has not aged well. Cigarettes and champagne can only get you so far. And when put together with this drinking game, they can lead to a very depressing night.

Freakie-Deakies Need Love, Too

We've been making drinking games for over a year now, but we've managed to skirt around a major nostalgia bank: old Disney movies.

Believe me, this was done on pure accident. After all, what better way to mix childhood and adulthood pleasures than by playing a drinking game to movies made by the most popular animation studio of all time? Especially now, since they seem to be heading towards another renaissance? Disney's past three animated films ("Tangled", "Wreck-it-Ralph" and newly crowned Oscar winner "Frozen") have all showcased the new life being breathed into the studio and let us know that Disney's back to writing good stories and taking chances again.

Today we're looking at the studio's fourth effort, "Dumbo", a movie made with extrodinary creativity and care. A masterwork of animation, composition and storytelling. A hotbed of racism and upholder of negative stereotypes.

To Boldly Go Where Few Have Tread

This is the "Godfather" of bad movies. Or we've all been told.

Let's set the scene: it's 2002. Eddie Murphy is riding a giant wave of notoriety that he found in the late 80's. A man who gained fame for being subversive, intelligent and often downright batshit, is now a household name. He just voiced a talking donkey in Shrek, and my God, he's proven that talented actors can still make money and make relevant movies with great performances. He worried us a little bit with some of his choices; "The Nutty Professor" and "Doctor Doolittle" aren't exactly high art. But those are just kids' movies, right? You can't expect Eddie Murphy to go all "Raw" in a children's movie. If you do, you're disgusting.

Enter Pluto Nash.

Pluto Nash is not a children's movie. Children's movies, often, are fun. Pluto Nash is a carefully crafted, billion dollar flop that was designed to hit all the right buttons. It followed the film formula to a "t", it got some of the biggest names in Hollywood, it spared no expense with special effects (and for 2002, this movie at least LOOKS fairly decent). But it wasn't good. It was never going to BE good. All Murphy's involvement did was bring its badness to the public eye. Without him, it would have been an easily forgettable B-movie with some "Hey!"-worthy celebrity sightings.

Pluto Nash is the movie Murphy should never have made. But as we sat down to actually watch it, we wondered: is this really the worst flop of all time? Or do we just believe that because it's what we've been told? Does the movie actually SUCK as hard as they say? Could it have been saved? Can things possibly have been any worse?

The Porn Version Has the Same Name

Oh, man, this movie!

I mean, it starts and it's like BANG, ShOOOOOM! And then the terrorists arrive and they're all like "POWPOWPOW", and Bruce Willis is like "Fuck this!" and a bunch of people die, and there are cops that totally don't do anything because Bruce Willis is doing their jobs better, and then Alan Rickman's like "AAAAAAAH" and then Christmas music plays!

That makes it a Christmas movie!

Yeah, the world is divided in two on this movie, between people who've never seen it and people who consider it a Christmas classic. A franchise that launched Bruce Willis' career, that gave us the magic of Alan Rickman for the first time, and taught us all a little bit about the importance of ingenuity and good footwear, Die Hard lives up to expectations. There are already many drinking games for Die Hard floating around the internet.

But how many of those games were crafted while watching the movie for the first time?

"I've Done Something Terrible!"

Happy Holidays, everyone! Christmas is here, and we here at For Your Inebriation couldn't be more excited. We love a good Christmas movie as much as the next guy. But you know what we love just as much?

Random senseless violence.

That's right, our Holiday drinking games are going to involve the baddest, bloodiest movies that have ever graced the winter season (without going into campy territory. Nobody wants to play a drinking game to "Jack Frost", right?). We begin with a game for our favorite "Christmas" movie: In Bruges. The story of two hitmen who get sent on holiday by their potty-mouthed boss after an assasination gone awry, to the most magical town in all of Belgium.

Never seen this movie? Experience the wonder and delight in Martin McDonagh's tight, beautiful story of guilt, friendship, and the beliefs people are willing to die for. All in fucking Bruges.

On Was Brought

I remember when I was in middle school (really dating myself here), every girl in class was obsessed with this movie. And because I was unpopular and slightly bitter, I wrote it off. God. Cheerleaders? How can you make a movie about cheerleaders anything but vapid and obnoxious? What's this movie even about? Getting boyfriends on the football team? Who needs another movie pandering to young teenaged girls about girly crap?

Turns out this movie's actually about artistic integrity, how to cultivate true leadership qualities, and becoming an independent adult who faces problems head on.

What?

Yeah, this movie has its share of girly situations, but what it NEVER does is pander. Instead it gives our main characters credibility by giving their issues weight and gravity. Their hard work is recognized, their struggles are relatable, and they are never talked down to by the writers or the audience. It sounds so easy, but it's very difficult to pull off, especially in 2000 with a movie about high-school girls.

So yeah, I'm glad I never saw this movie when I was younger. Because now, along with good film sense and years of experience, I can drink alcohol. And thank God I was never a cheerleader.

"Bruce Willis, You Can Fight Anything ...but YOURSELF!"

Is it just me, or has the action genre been a little weird this past decade or so? Maybe it has to do with the rise of CGI in feature length films, or maybe it's just as simple as a change in the aesthetics movie-goers look for when they see a film, but action lately movies have lacked punch. They feel the need to over explain, to drive exposition into the ground, dragging down the pace of the movie at the same time. Even Transformers, one of the highest grossing action movies ever, is bogged down by tedious dialogue-driven scenes; the movie doesn't get going until it's nearly over.

It's not that Looper doesn't do this, but that it threads its exposition and "character driven" scenes pretty well together with the guns and blood. It delivers its plot to the audience at breakneck speed, and only gives you just enough downtime to catch up with it...mostly.

I guess what I'm saying is what makes it a successful movie, and makes our drinking game successful as well, is Bruce Willis and Young Bruce Willis (I mean, Joseph Gordon-Levitt). What bogs it down is...everything else.

"Is There a Drink for, like, Totally Obnoxious?"

We've covered a fair amount of movie musicals here on For Your Inebriation, and there's a reason for that. In the mid-2000's, the genre went through a bit of a renaissance. Due to the success of movies such as Moulin Rouge and Chicago, the industry suddenly realized that there was still a market for a big, flashy, highly-choreographed movie where we get to see our favorite movie stars sing (or try to). So dozens of musicals on Broadway were adapted to the big screen, with honestly mixed results. For every Chicago, there was a Rent.

One of the more successful adaptations was the movie we're drinking to this week: Hairspray. Based on a musical which was based off a movie, it's a beautiful example of the fun, pop schlock that came out around that time. Its bright colors, catchy songs, and inspirational quotes left teenagers and adults alike dancing in the aisles. Also, this movie brought us John Travolta in drag, and that is just the gift that keeps on giving.

But is there any substance under all this style? Did this movie deserve to be the smash hit it was? Welcome to the 60's. It's time to get your drink on.

"I Feel Like Louise Bourgeois is Orgasming Somewhere."

Well, it's November. Halloween has come and gone, but the memories and the hangovers still remain. Maybe you stuffed your face with candy, or maybe you drowned your sorrows in liquor. Or maybe you didn't do a thing because Halloween was on a Thursday this year and dammit, you had work in the morning. What, does everyone expect you to forsake your good health for some cheap thrills and a costume contest or two? You're a busy guy.

Not to worry, friend, because that's what holiday weekends are for (or any weekend, really). And there are few better ways to celebrate Halloween than by watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. A beautiful labor of love, this stop-motion classic was beloved by many creepy children who grew up in the 90's. With its catchy songs, its breathtaking animation and its unique take on Halloween AND Christmas, it earns its title as a holiday staple.

Perhaps you don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe you've never seen this movie, but wondered what the fuss was about. If you haven't, it's about time you've begun.

"It's Literally a Romp Plus Lyncanthropy."

Happy almost Halloween, everyone! It's that time of year, where people like to indulge in pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, and watching spooooky movies. So we decided to give you a couple of spoooky drinking games to try on for size.

Or at least that was the idea, but then this 80's classic caught our eye. "Teen Wolf" has received a resurgance in popularity since the television adaptation, which is now in its third season, hit the airwaves. I can't speak for the quality of the TV show; I've never seen it (I know, for shame), but I'm not sure it can top this cult hit. This movie taught us that you should always stay true to yourself, because people will accept you...as long as you're good at organized sports. And if you get turned down constantly by the pretty popular girl, don't worry! Your childhood friend is there as a back-up. And make sure to avoid dangerous stunts unless you have the strength that only the full moon can bring you.

Yeah. This is a weird one. How did it slip past my radar for this long?